"The weather is fine at Kokura Racecourse."
"Third in popularity for this race, Glimmer Express."
"The winner of Kokura Daishoten in February, she is competing in this race as a strong contender for victory!"
"Next up is this girl, second in popularity, Ogura Storm."
"Having achieved a five-race winning streak so far, plus a three-race winning streak in major races, can she maintain her winning streak here?"
"Finally, the absolute star of this race is indeed her!"
"The most popular contestant in this race, the winner of the Kikuka Sho and Takarazuka Kinen, Rice Shower, who defeated Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen and is hailed as the strongest active racer!"
"Although she had an accident at the Takarazuka Kinen, she attracted the most attention by announcing her comeback just over a month later!"
"How well has Rice Shower recovered? Can she regain her former strength and make a successful comeback? Let's wait and see!"
"Turf, 2000m, a tribute to Kokura."
"Now, all the racers have entered the gates."
With the commentator's voice echoing across the venue, all the racers who had entered the gates were ready to start.
Rice Shower, located in Gate 3, had Glimmer Express, the third most popular racer in the event, to her left.
She was an Umamusume local to Fukuoka and naturally very familiar with Kokura Racecourse.
"Kitakyushu Kinen is a race where the inside gate is at a disadvantage, while the middle gate is advantageous."
"Because the first and second corners are uphill, Umamusume expend more energy when cornering compared to other races."
"The inside track experiences the greatest centripetal force, so Umamusumes on the inside have to withstand greater centripetal force and the uphill effect simultaneously when cornering."
After looking at Rice Shower, Glimmer Express turned her attention to Ogura Storm in Gate 7.
"While the outer track allows for near-straight-line speeds during turns, it's longer and has uphill sections, resulting in significantly higher stamina expenditure."
"Without a doubt, my current position is the most advantageous. With the best gate in this race, victory is practically guaranteed."
Glimmer Express thought to herself, a slight smile playing on her lips as confidence filled her heart.
"Ready—"
"Start!"
As the commentator's voice faded, the gates sprang open.
"All the Umamusumes have surged forward, and their starts are all excellent!"
"Now, leading the pack is number 4, Glimmer Express."
"Glimmer Express takes the lead."
"Second place is number 5, Holy Jacket."
"Closely following is Rice Shower! Rice Shower looks fantastic, securing the chaser position early on."
"Ogura Storm is in fifth place, choosing to follow from the back."
"Go Rice!!"
"Go Rice-senpai!"
The TCB members in the stands cupped their hands around their mouths, cheering for Rice Shower on the track.
Sakura Baimu stood at the back with her hands in her pockets, watching Rice Shower and the entire Kitakyushu Kinen race.
"Trainer-san, Falco is a little worried about Rice-chan. That uphill section looks really strange."
Smart Falcon, looking at Rice Shower on the inside track, also judged that the inside lane was very unfavorable.
"Rice-chan doesn't seem to have practiced uphill running with Trainer-san, has she? Could something unexpected happen?"
"The slope at Kokura Racecourse is different from the slope at Tokyo Racecourse. Even though I taught her, it wouldn't have helped much," Sakura Baimu said.
"Well... Falco thinks Trainer-san should also talk to Rice-chan about how to run in uphills."
Sakura Baimu chuckled and spoke to Smart Falcon.
"The Kitakyushu Kinen starts with a straight of about 470 Meters, making it very easy to increase the pace early on."
"From the second half of the straight, it's uphill, and you don't reach the top until after the second bend."
"This hill has an elevation difference of 3 Meters and a climbing distance of 300 Meters, unlike any uphill section Rice Shower has ever run."
"That's why Falco said this hill is very disadvantageous for Rice." Hearing Sakura Baimu's words, Smart Falcon's cute little face showed even more worry.
"GG, your name clearly has 'Smart' in it, so why are you so silly?" Sakura Baimu said disdainfully.
Hearing Sakura Baimu's disdain again, Smart Falcon's cheeks puffed out, and her three chestnut-colored ponytails stood on end.
"I've never seen a slope like this before! Falco isn't mistaken!"
"Go check on your teammates," Sakura Baimu said dismissively.
Smart Falcon turned to look at the others nearby.
It turned out that, apart from Kitasan Black, who hadn't even noticed this side and was raising her arm to cheer loudly for Rice Shower, everyone else was there.
Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio, who had overheard her conversation with Sakura Baimu, showed no signs of worry.
Mejiro McQueen saw Smart Falcon looking over and explained softly.
"Although I've never seen this exact height and length before, this slope is almost identical to the one at Kyoto Racecourse!"
"Huh?" Smart Falcon was still somewhat puzzled.
"Rice participated in last year's Spring Tenno Sho," Tokai Teio reminded her.
"Both last year's and this year's Spring Tenno Sho were held at Kyoto Racecourse, and that race includes two 400-meter-long, 4-meter-high hills."
"That's the same hill Rice and I ran on during last year's Spring Tenno Sho. Rice Shower finished second and even broke the Spring Tenno Sho record," Mejiro McQueen laughed.
"Oh, I see☆!" Smart Falcon exclaimed in realization.
But before she could finish speaking, Sakura Baimu tapped her on the head from behind.
"You're in high school now. Why do you always need your juniors to explain these things to you? How can you be an idol if you're this clueless? And you call yourself smart?"
Sakura Baimu tapped Smart Falcon on the head each time she spoke.
"Waaah~" Smart Falcon covered her head with both hands, not daring to argue.
Just as Smart Falcon was still whimpering with her head in her hands, the audience in the arena suddenly gasped in amazement.
Sakura Baimu and the others looked down at the track and saw Rice Shower, dressed in a sports T-shirt and shorts, overtaking the second-placed Holy Jacket on the uphill section.
"As expected of the Umamusume who broke the Spring Tenno Sho record, Rice Shower climbed the hill very quickly and even overtook the second-placed Holy Jacket!"